Jadyn Davis, The No. 1 2024 QB Target For Josh Heupel
Head coach Josh Heupel has varying interest levels in the current high school quarterback scene. He has four top targets in the 2025 class: George MacIntyre, KJ Lacey, Antwann Hill, and Cutter Boley.
He seems to only have two quarterback targets in 2024 that he is seriously pursuing. Jake Merklinger is one of the top players in America, but his recruitment is still in the developing stages. Tennessee has been in contact recently, but there's another prospect they are after.
Quarterback Jadyn Davis has been a national name on the recruiting circuit since he was in eighth grade. He has 32 offers, but it seems that Michigan, North Carolina, and Tennessee have separated themselves. Davis has an interesting skill set that would be used well in any college offense.
Elastic Lower-Body Mechanics
While consistent mechanics are impressive shorts and a T-shirt, you won't have all day in the pocket. In modern football, edge rushers and athletic interior defensive linemen collapse the pocket, so quarterbacks must create plays.
Davis favors escaping the pocket to the left, which is not typical of right-handed quarterbacks. It's tough to throw across your body, but Davis has a strong lower body that can generate torque from various angles.
He can make a full hip rotation to fight balls into tight windows but can deliver lofting downfield passes with a short turn. Davis completes these passes at a high rate, changing the dimensions of an offense.
Quick Release
Once again, defenses aren't going to allow Davis to sit in a pocket and pick his spots. He must be able to change his release point and delivery depending on the circumstance, and his release helps with that.
Quarterbacks often elongate their deliveries, taking too much time to finish the throw after bringing the ball past their head. It can lead to accuracy inconsistencies and errant throws, one of the tell-tale signs of a turnover-prone quarterback.
Davis has a quick, repeatable motion that he can perform from various spots. His delivery looks similar to that of a shortstop making a routine play; not too mechanical, but with enough structure to create a consistent rotation.
Strong Ball Placement
Receivers will not be able to create yards of separation consistently in college. College quarterbacks can communicate to wideouts with their ball placement, leading them to the correct spot on the field.
Davis throws the back-shoulder football better than anyone else in high school football. He is incredibly efficient in the red zone, putting the football in spots only the pass catcher can catch it.
Tennessee lives in the red zone, and finding a quarterback that can fit passes into tight windows is necessary, not optional.
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